Tide motor



March 1, 1932. J, E YOUNG 1,847,855

' TIDE MOTOR Filed July 28, 1926 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JbhnEI oun 7 7 V RQ'ZMW I ATTORNEY J. E. YOUNG March 1, 1932.

TIDE-MOTOR Filed July 28, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John E Ybun.

- QJ/ZM ATTORNEY March 1, 1932. J YOUNG 1,847,855

TIDE .MOTOR Filed July 28, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR J0 i122 Elauny,

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

JOHN E. YOUNG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TIDE Moron Application filed July 28,

Amongst other advantages of my device, I

and one of its important features relatesoto the means provided whereby the motive operation of my mechanism is effected by the flow of the tide, and which means is nonbuoyant, is constantly maintained at a predetermined level within the tide flow by means by which the device is controlled by the rise and fall of the water level during such tidal action, and which in turn causes the tide motor element to be raised and lowered and kept in a predetermined and most convenient position relative to the tide level. v

Another advantage of my device relates to the method of mounting the apparatus upon a permanent foundation within such tideways as are adapted for this apparatus.

Another advantage of my device is the provision of means whereby should the tide motor element get into a state of disrepair, itmay be easily removed from its mounting and a duplicate apparatus substituted therefor, thus enabling a substantially continuous operation during tide flow periods.

Another advantage of my device is the provision of means for anchorage foundation or mount, whereby the tide flows are accentuated and redirected against improved paddle blades formed so as to gain a most efficient thrust from'such tide action or flow.

Further advantages will appear as the description of one of the possible embodiments 40 of the invention proceeds and while herein details are described, the invention obviously may be subject to modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scopeof the appended claims. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of my device partly in section on the line 3'3 of Fig. 2. p V

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of my device showing a pair of co-ordinating motors.

Fig.3 is a sectional view so J of my devlce on 1926. Serial No. 125,431.

the line 3-3, Fig. 1, lookingdownwardly in the direction of the arrow. I

Fig. 4 is a partial end view of my device.

Fig. 5is a diagrammatic view showingthe method of controlling the tide level of the motor element, 1

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary reduced View in plan showing two or more co-ordinating tide engines, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary reduced side elevation showing the power take off from the other motive ends. 7 i

As a foundation for mounting my engine, and more especially of the structure thereof reference may be had to Fig. t in which there is shown at 1 and 2, vertical and preferably concrete abutments or piers which are properly'set up in any suitable tide-way and shaped to act as guides for the current acting on the blades of the motor and which abutments or piers being alsoshown in section in Fig. 3, may be duplicated as many times as there are tide motors in the unit, so that in effect, if there are three tide motors to be utilized simultaneously, then there would be two outer rows of abutments or piers 1 on opposite sides and two inner rows of abutments or piers 2 intermediate the tide entrance. It is also proposed that upon these abutments or piers which are located in series as shown in Fig. 3, to build an upper supporting platform, generally denoted by 3, Figs. 1 and 6 and upon which platform or ledge is mounted a superstructure, generally denoted by 4:, Fig. 1, which superstructure comprises a plurality of vertical structural iron supports 5 which support upon their upper ends and overhead an I-beam structurefi and suit able structural cross ties 7,.it being understood that the uprights 5 are suitably mounted and supported within the general anchorage in any suitable practical manner, thereby to insure rigidity and firmnessof support for the operative structure.

In order to more easily understand the structure of thetidal motor itself apartfrom its operative base and supporting superstructure above described, the motor itself comprises a frame member having. a pair of side frames, one of these frame members 8 being and up, through and to the power take off shown in Fig. 5 and comprising a truss like member carrying bearings 9 on opposite ends and gibs or slide members 10 on the upper and lower side strips 11, 11' which engage in longitudinally vertically extending grooves 'or channels 10, Fig. 3, formed in the abutments or piers 1 and 2, and position the frame member 8 between the a-butments or piers 1 and 2. These strips are tied together by vertical struts or cross ties 12 or any suitable means, the frame members 8 when viewed from the side having straight parallel top and bottom strips connected by converging end portions which provide pointed ends of these members. In bearings 9 in these pointed end portions are mounted shafts 13 to which are rigidly keyed sprocket wheels 14., two to each shaft, and upon each of these sprocket wheels is mounted a suitable sprocket chain 15, as shown in Figs. '1 and 2. These chains are tied together by means of paddle blades 16, which in crosssection are substantially circumflex, and

which are secured at one of their ends to the chains so that they are at all times operably held at .right angles relative to the chain, the paddle blades 16 having free end portions extendingoutwardly from the chains 15 for immersion in the tide or stream for contact of the tide or streamcurrent therewith, whereby the chainsare moved.

It will be noted that these blades are substantially circumflex shaped in direction transverse to the chains 15 and the purpose of this will be described later.

Upon one of the sprocket wheels 14, as is indicated in Fig. 7, there is located helical gear 17 which is in turn'rigidly meshed with a driven helical gear 18 suitably held between bearings 19 and which gear in turn is slidably keyed to a vertical power shaft 20 the opposite end of which is mounted in a bearing and is rigidly secured thereto. A helical gear 21 is secured to the end of the shaft 20 and this gear in turn meshes with a helical gear 22, Fig. 6 and is secured toa shaft 23 which constitutes in elfect a universaldrive shaft and upon which-shaft are suitably mounted similar gears 22 which are in turn driven by gears 21 from adjacent tide operated units. At the outer end of the shaft 23, is located a bevel gear 24 which is associated with a pair of bevel gears 25 and 26 which are slidably mounted upon and rotate a power take 01f shaft 27, and these gears 25 and26 are shifted into mesh with the'bevelled gear 24:, depending upon the direction of rotation of gears 21 and 22 duringtidal action.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that movement of the conveyor chains and their sprockets and associated paddle blades is causedjby tide movement which will 7 be described later, this movement being transmitted through gearing previously described shaft 27 from which shaft it is directed to any desired useful purpose, such as rotating electric generators, not shown.

In order to realize my devices operation, it is necessary that my apparatus either single or in plural, be so permanently mounted in a tide-way as to lie transverse to the tidal flow in such a manner that the tide flow which is indicated by the arrows A, Figs. 2 and 3 is caused to pass in the direction of these arrows by the oblique positions of the concrete abutments 1 and 2 relative to the axial line of the frame members 8 so that while the tide would normally flow in a straight and direct line transversely to the longitudinal position of the tide motor elements themselves, the concrete abutments 1 and 2 cause this transverse current to take an angular direction, and be thereby diverted against the paddle blades 16 and owing to the conformation of these paddle blades the full rush of water against them causes them to be moved in the direction of the arrow B, Figs. 1 and 3, and thereby move the lower parts of the sprocket chains 15 in the direction of the arrow B.

Owingto the fact, as indicated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, that only the lower half of the tide engine is below the tide level T it is obvious that the upper paddle blades 16 move in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow 0, Fig. 1 and when they are moving they are unobstructed and are gradually brought down into the moving tide and thereby caused to give continuous rotation to the gear train previously mentioned.

It will also be noted that no provision is made in the tide motor elements themselves to keep them buoyant, they purposely being made of open framework s0 as to offer the least amount of resistance to water action, with the exception of the paddle blades which are circumflex shaped as previously described, and as'shown at Fig. .3, and so developed to take the full force of the water flow. The non-buoyant feature of the tide engines prevents these ordinarily heavy units from rising and falling with rough water but permits them to be located substantially and firmly at a predetermined position to the tide level with a minimum amount of reaction to waves. There is, however, a provision made in my apparatus, whereby as the tide rises and falls, that these tide motors will be maintained at a desired level about as indicated in Fig. 5, which is a diagrammatic outline of the engine level control switches and which will now be described.

A series of wheeled supports or pulleys properly mounted upon the cross-bars 7 and generally denoted by 29, Figs. 1, 2 and 5 have therein support cables 30 which in turn are brought downwardly and through another set of last pulleys 31, these pulleys being supported in location upon suitable uprights such as 5 in Fig. 1 and the continuation of the ca- 155 if this for any reason is necessary, it being 6Q ters Patent is: 1

bles is run over these pulleys as at 32 and secured to a winding drum 33 whichvis directly attached toa winding mechanism in connection with an electric. motor 34. a

@ Theelectric motor, of reversing type, has two sets of wire circuits, generally denoted byC-C and BB, Fig. '5, and these wires run through the motor connections to a switch board 35 which has mounted thereon upon two pairs of switch contacts 36 and 36 on access to'the tidelevels upon occasion of the tide rising and falling and as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The switch board 35 is carried upon a mooring arm 43 which is attached to the frame member 8. i i The switch member 36 normally is in neutral position between the switch contacts 36 and 36% Upon rising of the tide upward movement of the float 40 causes the switch member 36 to contact with the switch contacts 36, thereby operating the winding drum 33 and consequently lifting by means of the cables 30 the frame member 8 with the center thereof to substantiallythe level of the float 40, whereupon the switch member 36 is moved to neutral-position. Upon falling of the tide downward movement of the float member 40 moves the switch member 36 from neutral position into contact with'the switch contacts 36 and causes movement of the winding drum 33 reversely to its former movement for lowering the frame member 8 with the center thereof to substantially the level of the float member 40. i I In Figs. 1 and 4, are shown hooks H which are slidably movable on the lower flange of the support 4, which hooks can be connected by suitable means, not shown, to the paddle blades 16 for removing the blades from operable position for substituting new bladesfor old ones; or the hooks H may be connected to the frame member 8 by means, not shown, for lifting the frame member out of its position between the abutments or piers land 2,

readily understood, although not shown, that the" mooring arm 43 may be removably connected to the frame member for this purpose.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letcontact of the tide-flow therewith, non-buoyant supports for 'saidmembers, transmission ing means operated by rise and fall of the means for directing the current, of a the tide flow against said members for moving the m'embers,-driving means, means. cooperating between said members and the driving means for operating the driving means when said members are moved, power take off means, means cooperating between the driving means and power take off means for operating. the power take off means, and automatic hoisttide and including electric hoistingmeans for vertically raising and lowering said supports, therebymaintainingsaid members at a desired level in the tide flow.

, 2; In a tide motor, in combination, a supporting meansindependent of the tide, a non-buoyant frame member supported on said-means in the tide flow, sprocket wheels on said member, sprocket chains on said wheels,areversible motion; paddle blades on the sprocket chains, means for directing tide flow against said :blades .for movingthe blades, a gearon one ofthe sprocket wheels,

a shaftadjacent to said-gear havingon one end thereof a gear engaging the first mentioned gear-and having on its-oppositeend a second gear, a drive shafthaving a gear on one. end thereof engaging said second gear and having a gear on-its opposite end, a'power take-off shaft having a pair of gears slidably mounted thereon and alternately engageable with the last mentioned gear of the drive shaft on opposite sides ofsaid gear, whereby said power take off shaftmaybedriven in the same direction when said other shafts and -buoyant frame member, sprocket wheels on said member, sprocket chains on saidwheels, doublecurved reversible motion paddle lades on the sprocket chains, rows of stationary piers located in the tide flow, hoisting means supported by said piers and adapted for supporting said frame member i'nithe tide'flow between the rows of piers and raising or lowering the frame member, said piers having side faces for directing the tide flow against said paddle blades for moving the blades and thereby moving said sprocket wheels,'a gear on one of the sprocket wheels, a shaft adjacent to said gearhaving on one end thereof a keyed slidable gear engaging the firstmention'ed gear and having on its opposite "end a secondg'ear, a 'drive shaft having agearron oneend thereof engaging said second gear and'having 'a gear on its opposite end, a powertakeoif shaft having a pair of gears slidably mounted thereon and alternately engageable with the last mentionedgear of the-drive shaft odo posite sides of said gear-, -whereby said power take ofi'shaft maybe driven in the same direct-ion, when said other shafts and wheels are reversed, and automatic means operated by rise and fall of the tide for operating said hoisting'means for raising or lowering the frame member for thereby maintaining the frame member at a desired level in the tide flow.

4.. A current motor having a supporting foundation, said motor including sprocket Wheels, endless sprocket chains travelling during sections of their runs in upper and lower parallel horizontal planes and travelling at the ends of said sections over said sprocket wheels, paddles secured to said sprocket chains so that the paddles are at all timesrigidly held at right angles to the chains, said paddles having free end portions extending outwardly from the chains for immersion in the current for-contact of the current therewith for moving the chains and thereby rotating said sprocket wheels, said paddles being substantially doublecurved in: cross; section thereby being reversible in the. direction of their motion, means appurtenant to said foundation for directing the flow ofthe current against said paddles, reversible main drive means driven by said sprocket wheel rotation, and non-reversed power take ofl? means cooperating with said main drive means.

5. A current motor including a foundation, one or. more current turbines, means on said turbines con-tactable by the current for moving the turbines when said means is immersed in the current, hoisting means. mounted on said foundation and including electric motor and switch means for translatably moving and adjustably supporting said turbines in a partly submerged successively parallel horizontal position in the current, float means actuated by tidal rise and fall for operating said electric means, main drive means driven by said sprocket wheel rotation, and power take off means cooperating with said. main drive means.

6.v In a current motor, in combination, a supporting foundation including piers, a nonbuoyant skeleton frame vertically adjustable on the abutments, a series of blades supported by said'frame and movable thereon by contact of the current with the blades, said blades in cross section being substantially doublecurved, and hoisting means supported by said foundation and disposed fortranslatably raising andilowering and adjustably supporting said frame at a suitable; level in the current between said piers, the latter forming therebetween guide passages for the current having side wall faces for directing the current against the concave portions of said blades.

7. In a tidal flow. motor a current turbine having thereon blades, which are double curved in cross section, whereby to beactuated by the flow of the tide in either direction and to receivethe current ofsaid flow by said frames, automatic means for actuating said hoisting means, whereby to maintain said frames with said turbines thereon at a suitable level, said hoisting means including an overhead structure, multiple flexible means and multiple pulleys attached to multiple points in each of said frames and said structure, a Winding drum for shortening and lengthening said flexible means and an electric motor, operated by said automatic means, for intermittently driving said drum,

said motor being reversible, and said automatic means, including a pair of switch contacts in the circuits of said motor, a switch 'closure member disposed to oscillate with relation to said contacts and a float movably positioned in said current, said pair of contacts and said member being mounted between a part on said float and a part on said frames, whereby relative motion is produced between said member and said contacts by the difference in the relative levels of said float and said frames, thereby producing said oscillation and thereby operating said motor.

9. In a mechanism for tide water operation comprising a motor having an endless blade carrying structure movable in opposite directions, the combination with spaced blades carried by said structure and having double'cross sectional curvature, said struclbs ture being movable transversely to the line v of movement of the tidal water, and said blades being disposed in parallel relation with said line, of lines of spaced grounded abutments disposed in parallel relation with said structure and having oblique faces, whereby water moving in either direction may be directed by said faces onto one of the curved portions of the respective blades for moving said structure as aforesaid.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 22nd day of July, A. D. 1926. I JOHN E. YOUNG.

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